Tractor



J. C. SIMMONS.

Patented Nov. 11, 1919.

6 W M a M 6 u l w M C P. 3: H I] M I v i 6 w w.-- a. EU 0 4 M v% M H WVA 6 UNITED STATES PATENT oEEIoE.

JESSE G. SIMMONS, OF BIG RAPIDS, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR TO THE FOUR DRIVETRACTOR CO. INC., OF BIG- RAPIDS, MICHIGAN.

TRACTOR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented NOV. 11, 1919.

Application filed April is, 1917. Serial No. 162,393.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, J EssE C. SIMMONS, a citizen of the United States,residing at Big Rapids, county of Mecosta, State of Michigan, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Tractors, of which thefollowing is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in tractors.

My improvements are especially designed by me for embodiment in fourwheel drive tractors of the type illustrated in my application forLetters Patent, filed Feb. 2, 1917, Ser. No. 156,084, and I haveillustrated the same in the accompanying drawing as embodied in such astructure. My improve ments are, however, capable of embodiment anddesirable for use in other four wheel drive tractors.

The main-objects of this invention are:

First, to provide an improved draft device for four wheel drivetractors.

Second, to provide an improved draft device for four wheel drivetractors in which the load hauled increases the traction of the fronttraction wheels.

Further objects, and objects relating to structural details, willdefinitely appear from the detailed description to follow.

I accomplish the objects of my invention by the devices and meansdescribed in the following specification. The invention is clearlydefined and pointed out in the claims.

A structure which is a preferred embodiment of my invention is clearlyillustrated in the accompanying drawing, forming a part of thisspecification, in which:

Figure I is a detail elevation of a four wheel drive tractor embodyingmy improvements, the rear wheels being omitted, parts being shown insections and other parts broken away in the interests of clearness ofillustration.

Fig. II is a detail horizontal section on a line corresponding to line2-2 of Fig. I, showing the relation of the draft members to the rearaxle.

Fig. III is a detail section on a line corresponding to line 33 of Fig.II.

Fig. IV is a detail horizontal section on a line corresponding to line44L of Fig. I, showing the connection for the draft or stress rods tothe front end of the running gear frame.

In the drawing similar reference characters refer to similar partsthroughout the several views, and the sectional views are taken lookingin the direction of the little arrows at the ends of the section lines.

Referring to the drawing, 1 represents the running gear frame, the frontend of which is elevated to support the engine 2 and its housing 3 inproper relation to the other parts. The front and rear traction wheels 1and 5 are provided with front axles 6 and 7, respectively. The frontaxle is provided with a housing 8 and the rear axle with a housing 9.The axles are driven through the propeller shafts 10 and 11, the drivingconnections not being illustrated or described in detail herein, as theyform no part of my present invention.

My improved draft device comprises draft members or draft plates 12which are disposed below and secured to the axle housing by means of theU-bolts 13. Thus mounted, the draft members lie below the plane of theaxis of the rear axle and are of course substantially pivoted thereon,as will be seen by reference to Fig. III.

Draft bars 14c are connected to the rear ends of the draft members '12and on the rear ends of these draft bars is a cross or evener bar 15 towhich the connection for the machine or vehicle to be hauled is made.Draft or stress rods 16 connect the forward ends of the draft members 12to the front gear frame 1, the connection being prefer ably made to thefront cross piece 17 of the running gear frame, which is in a plane wellabove the horizontal plane of the front axle.

With this arrangement of parts the pull or load of the draft bars 14serves to hold the front wheels downward and increase the tractionthereof and adds greatly to the hauling capacity or power of thetractor.

I have illustrated and described my improvements in a simple andpractical form in which I have embodied the same. I have not attemptedto illustrate or describe other embodiments or adaptations as I believethe disclosure made will enable those skilled in the art to which myimprovements relate to embody or adapt the same as circumstances mayrequire.

Having thus described my invention, what 'I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In a tractor, the combination of a runniIig gear frame, front andrear axles, front and rear traction Wheels, driving means supportingclips for said draft plates embracing said axle housing, draft rods connected to the front end of said running gear frameabove the fro11taXleand to thefront running gear frame above the plane of the frontage andto'the front end of said draft endsjof said draft plates, a pair, ofdraw bars connected to the rear ends of said" draft plates, and a.cross' bar connected to; said draw bars, the connection for the draftplates tothe axle being such that'asubStan tial portion of the draft issustained by" the said draft rodsQ e 7 2. Ina tractor,. the combinatlonof a running gear frame, front andrear axles, front an'd'frear tractionWheels, driving means therefor, a housing for the rear. axle, a draftplate'mounted below' said. rear axle housing, a'draft rod connectedtothe-front end ofsa d plate, and a draw bar connected to the rear f endof said draft plate, the draft plate being mounted so thatasubstantialportion of the draftis sustained by the draft rod.

3. In a tractor, the combination of a running gear frame, front and rearaxles, front and reartractlon Wheels, driving means for esa1d tractionWheels; a draft member d1smy hand and seal in the presence of twowitnesses.

JESSE C. SIMMONS.

Vitnesses Fnan A. AsHLEY, W. L. LINDBLOM.

Qppieqb! this patent may be obtained fornve cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents,

" v waahington', D. G.

